Meredith Somers

Armed man stops traffic on parkway

A man dressed in a flannel shirt and wielding a shotgun and a hammer attacked a vehicle mounted with speed cameras that was parked along the Baltimore-Washington Parkway on Wednesday, causing major traffic delays and a manhunt that continued into the night. Published July 6, 2011

Son charged in father’s killing

A Great Falls man has been charged in the killing of his father, Fairfax County police said Tuesday. Casey Emmer, 25, of 1223 Colvin Meadows Lane, was arrested in the killing Monday of 62-year-old Lawrence Emmer. Published July 5, 2011

Metro releases July 4 ridership numbers

The Independence Day holiday was predictably busy for Metro, officials said Tuesday. Published July 5, 2011

Mall’s assembled multitude marks America’s birthday with fireworks

Parades, fireworks and celebrations large and small across the region largely went off as planned Monday, dodging the threat of thunderstorms that created so much havoc earlier in the holiday weekend. Published July 4, 2011

Politicians in Palisades a July Fourth tradition

The annual Palisades parade in a tree-lined corner of Northwest is as much a local political scene as July Fourth celebration, and this year was no exception as a scandal-plagued D.C. mayor and City Council walked amid some of the city's most critical residents. Published July 4, 2011

Old Guard supplies the boom at concert

You won't see the soldiers of the Old Guard on Monday night, but you'll hear them if you're anywhere near the Mall. Published July 3, 2011

Tab for Georgetown, GW, Catholic and AU tops $50,000 annually

Georgetown University is the most expensive college or university to attend in the Washington area, according to a new online tool developed by the Department of Education to help estimate the true costs of the undergraduate experience. Published June 30, 2011

Woman dies in Arlington parking garage fire

A 74-year-old Annandale woman was found dead Wednesday inside a burned car in an underground parking garage after she hit a wall and broke a natural gas line, causing a fire. Published June 29, 2011

Montgomery Co. police ID man who died after Taser incident

Montgomery County police on Wednesday identified a Silver Spring man who died in police custody after officers used a Taser to subdue him. Published June 29, 2011

Designers pitch plans to upgrade the Ellipse

The National Capital Planning Commission is focused on making the open space adjacent to the White House more complementary to the landmark itself without sacrificing national security. On Tuesday, the commission presented the top five project designs from a nationwide search to find the best way to accomplish that goal. Published June 28, 2011

Travel likely to be down over July Fourth weekend

High gas prices will mean fewer people traveling by car this Independence Day weekend, according to travel estimates released Monday, but steep charges at the pump don't mean that highways won't still be jammed. Published June 27, 2011

Zoo-goers again hoping for panda pregnancy

Round-the-clock surveillance, spacious accommodations and a team of specialists available at a moment's notice, all for a potential panda no bigger than a stick of butter. Published June 26, 2011

Metro approves $2.55 billion budget

Metro's board of directors on Thursday passed a $2.55 billion fiscal 2012 budget, upholding a promise to avoid a bump in fares. Published June 23, 2011

Metro board considers employee fatigue

Metro employees who operate trains, drive buses and perform hazardous track repairs might be working too much, suffering from fatigue and posing possible safety hazards, Metro's board of directors suggested Thursday. Published June 23, 2011

Plaque marks D.C. Metrorail crash

A service on Wednesday marking two years since the Metro train crash that killed nine people near the Fort Totten station was partly an apology and partly a promise made by officials with the transit system that they had learned from mistakes. Published June 22, 2011